F1 News LIVE: Max Verstappen title confirmed as Christian Horner calls Mercedes ‘desperate’

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Verstappen wants to race Red Bull for the rest of his life after his dramatic world title win

Follow the latest Formula One news and his reaction to Max Verstappen’s sensational and controversial world title win in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

Verstappen went into the final race of the season tied on points with Lewis Hamilton, and it was the British Mercedes driver who looked on track for an eighth world title, taking the lead just a few laps ago. But the crash of back mark Nicholas Latifi changed the course of history, taking out the safety car and allowing Verstappen not only to close the gap but to put in new tyres.

As the safety car rolled off the track, Verstappen and Hamilton left for a one-lap penalty shootout for the title, the Red Bull driver had a daring lap overtake before going on to win the race and podium in F1.

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff was furious, and his team lodged protests against the result based on the controversial way race director Michael Massi forced late drama rather than abiding by the letter of the law in safety car procedures. However, Red Bull boss Christian Horner called the pleas “desperate” after the FIA ​​kicked them out.

Catch up on the latest feedback from the exciting finale of the F1 season:

Latest F1 news showing latest update 1639386604 F1 news: Verstappen opens in career after ‘ultimate’ goal achieved

Max Verstappen has admitted he has “achieved it all” in Formula 1 after winning his first world championship.

The Red Bull driver previously said winning the world title was his “last goal” in the sport and admitted it wouldn’t be “important” if he didn’t add another championship in his career.

After beating Lewis Hamilton in the exciting Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Verstappen said: “I will continue to drive but of course, in terms of accomplishments, I’ve achieved everything in Formula 1 now.

“So, whatever comes next is just a bonus.”

Jamie BraidwoodDecember13, 2021 09:10

1639386004F1 news: Verstappen praised Hamilton for pushing the title race to the line

Max Verstappen also put rivalry aside as he paid his respects to Lewis Hamilton and the fight he fought for winning the title in the last race of the season.

Tensions between the two title opponents escalated during the latter stages of the season, with Verstappen admitting his opinion of Hamilton had waned amid the ferocity of the championship battle.

But Verstappen said: “I have a lot of respect for Lewis, but you know, I’m very happy because I won overall because of course it was a very tough season fighting against Mercedes and Lewis.

“But I don’t want to sound… arrogant or whatever, to say it’s my pleasure to win against him.

“I have a lot of respect for him, I know he’s a great driver in terms of what he’s achieved, but I’m very happy we won it.”

Jamie BraidwoodDecember13, 2021 09:00

1639385404F1 news: Hamilton appears row at Verstappen’s congratulatory

Despite all the controversy and bitterness surrounding the end of the Formula 1 season, Lewis Hamilton showed class in his reaction to the record-breaking eighth world championship at the last minute, really stood out amid yesterday’s chaos.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was furious with race director Michael Masi for allowing the cars to lap between Hamilton and Verstappen to overtake the safety car moments before the start of the last lap, but Hamilton was luscious in the defeat.

“Congratulations to Max and his team,” said Hamilton. “We did a great job this year. It was the most difficult season, we gave everything, in the last part of the season we never gave up and that is the most important thing.”

Jimmy Braidwood Dec 13, 2021 08:50

1639384804F1 NEWS: Lewis Hamilton wasn’t the only loser from the end of the comic season

Daniel Austin writes that Formula 1 missed an opportunity to attract a new audience of fans after the farcical end of the season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

“The truth, though it may be unintentional, is that Michael Massey, not Max Verstappen or Lewis Hamilton, ultimately provided the defining moment and made kings of the season.

“Hamilton lost on this occasion, on the most painful day of his career. But the biggest losers are would-be F1 fans who stopped believing what they saw, and the sport itself which saw one of its biggest chances descend into chaos and stadiums.”

Jimmy Braidwood Dec 13, 2021 08:40

1639384204F1 news: Red Bull prepares to battle Mercedes on the pitch

Horner added that Red Bull would continue to fight any further appeal from Mercedes against Verstappen’s victory in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Mercedes immediately launched two appeals against the result, one against Verstappen for allegedly overtaking under a safety car and a second alleging a breach of rules regarding restarting the race after the safety car period.

Both teams were sent off after both teams spent hours in the hosts’ office, Verstappen managed to roast his title more than four hours after crossing the finish line – albeit with Mercedes choosing to introduce the intention to resume the call.

“If they appeal, they appeal,” Horner said. “We will fight them in the court of appeals and then in the court of law afterwards if they go that route.”

Jamie BraidwoodDecember13, 2021 08:30

1639383904F1 news: Christian Horner responds to Mercedes protest

In response to Mercedes’ challenge to the race result, Christian Horner claimed the appeal decision against Max Verstappen’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix victory that saw him crowned Formula 1 world champion was “a little desperate”.

When asked if he understood the decision by Mercedes – who was a lawyer present at the hearing – to launch their initial appeal, Red Bull boss Horner replied: “Obviously he was a little desperate but we didn’t want to finish it in front of the hosts.

“We never wanted to end up in front of the judges, obviously there was a lot of controversy before the race

“As it turns out it was completely different after the race, we don’t go racing with the lawyers etc – it was a shame that it ended there but the stewards made the right call.”

Jimmy Braidwood Dec 13, 2021 08:25

1639383604F1 News: Mercedes slams ‘unacceptable’ title race

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff described the decision to switch the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to a one-lap penalty shootout for the title as “unacceptable” in a heated conversation with race director Michael Massey.

Max Verstappen won his first Formula 1 championship in unbelievably dramatic fashion as Red Bull driver Lewis Hamilton edged past Lewis Hamilton on the last lap of the race after benefiting from a late safety car.

Mercedes fired a protest over the race result but Verstappen was confirmed as F1 champion after the race hosts dismissed the team’s case. Mercedes has since given notice of its intention to appeal.

“Michael, you need to redo the previous course. That’s not right,” Wolf said on team radio.

In response, Massey responded by saying: “Toto, that’s called motor racing.”

Jimmy Braidwood Dec 13, 2021 08:20

1639383280F1 news: Verstappen confirmed he is a champion after Mercedes protest rejected

The drama did not take place there, as Verstappen faced an excruciating four-hour wait as Mercedes launched two protests to the FIA ​​and summoned the assistance of their legal counsel. Verstappen’s championship wasn’t confirmed until around 11pm local time, and rest in the Red Bull garage was palpable.

Mercedes has given notice of its intention to appeal – giving the team 92 hours to file a second formal protest over the race.

We were told before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that Formula 1 wants the title race to be settled on the track and not in the hosts’ room – but with more legal action expected, it is now too late for that.

Jimmy Braidwood Dec 13, 2021 08:14

1639383071F1 News: How the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was won

Controversial, exciting, unpredictable – the final race of the Formula 1 season and the final race season of Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton amounted to the drama of what was one of the greatest seasons in the history of the sport. In perhaps the most exciting end to the Formula 1 season ever, Verstappen overtook Hamilton on the last lap to claim his first world championship – but in hugely controversial circumstances.

Jimmy Braidwood December 13, 2021 08:11

News 1639382475F1

Follow the latest Formula One news and his reaction to Max Verstappen’s sensational and controversial world title win in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

Verstappen went into the final race of the season tied on points with Lewis Hamilton, and it was the British Mercedes driver who looked on track for an eighth world title, taking the lead just a few laps ago. But the crash of back mark Nicholas Latifi changed the course of history, taking out the safety car and allowing Verstappen not only to close the gap but to put in new tyres.

As the safety car rolled off the track, Verstappen and Hamilton left for a one-lap penalty shootout for the title, the Red Bull driver had a daring lap overtake before going on to win the race and podium in F1.

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff was furious, and his team lodged protests against the result based on the controversial way race director Michael Massi forced late drama rather than abiding by the letter of the law in safety car procedures. However, Red Bull boss Christian Horner called the pleas “desperate” after the FIA ​​kicked them out.

Lawrence Ostleri Dec 13, 2021 08:01

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